Pattern grading method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A pattern grading machine has means to secure a pattern or a sheet of grading paper upon a planar upper surface, and means constraining a carrier to substantially free translatory movement thereover; the carrier is adapted to support either the pattern or the grading paper thereon. Indicia on a recording member can be located by a stylus to facilitate placing the carrier in a multiplicity of significant positions, and the stylus may be adapted for initial use to produce the indicia on the recording member.

United States Patent [151 3,641,674 Balogh [451 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] PATTERN GRADING METHOD AND 2,885,784 5/1959 Fox ..33/l2 APPARATUS THEREFOR 2,972,188 2/1961 Kaufman ..33/17 [72] Inventor: Joseph Balogh, 30 Vibberts Ave., New

Britain, Conn. 06051 [22] Filed: June 19, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 834,655

[52] U.S. Cl. ..33/17 A [51] Int. Cl. .A4lh 43/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..33/12, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,569,265 9/1951 Sudhoff ..33/l2 2,813,341 11/1957 Di Mino ..33/12 Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips Attorney-Peter L. Costas [5 7] ABSTRACT A pattern grading machine has means to secure a pattern or a sheet of grading paper upon a planar upper surface, and means constraining a carrier to substantially free translatory movement thereover; the carrier is adapted to support either the pattern or the grading paper thereon. lndicia on a recording member can be located by a stylus to facilitate placing the carrier in a multiplicity of significant positions, and the stylus may be adapted for initial use to produce the indicia on the recording member.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBIS m2 3.641. 74

SHEET 1 [IF 2 lAll/EA/TOR L/OSEPH BALOGH A TTOR VEY PATTERN GRADING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice in the garment and related industries to utilize one pattern to produce another having the same configuration as the first but different in size; this practice is generally referred to as pattern grading. Basically, a pattern is graded by placing it upon a sheet of grading paper, moving the pattern and paper relative to one another, and transposing significant locations from the pattern to the paper by marking the paper with reference to the pattern before or after each such relative movement. In this manner, a pattern can be generated on the paper which has a configuration similar to the original pattern, but in which some or all of the dimensions are either greater or lesser.

Many type of machines and devices have been developed and are available for use in pattern grading. Some of them are quite complex and may be used to grade a pattern in a number of different sizes simultaneously. Others are extremely simple and provide rather modest assistance to the skilled grader. Nevertheless, a need remains for a machine which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be operated by a relatively unskilled worker with a minimum amount of assistance from and/or supervision by a skilled grader to reproduce patterns in the manner described.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pattern grading machine which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be used by a relatively unskilled worker with a minimum amount of supervision by and/or assistance from a skilled grader to reproduce patterns in different sizes.

It is a more specific object to provide a method and apparatus wherein a template can be generated by a skilled grader and thereafter employed by a relatively unskilled worker for the grading of patterns.

Another object is to provide a machine wherein a multiplicity of patterns can be graded simultaneously or wherein one or more patterns can simultaneously be reproduced in a mu]- tiplicity of different sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained in a pattern grading machine which comprises a supporting structure having a planar upper surface portion for supporting a first planar element in a fixed position. At least one angularly fixing mechanism, or carrier mounting means, is mounted on a base portion that is stationarily positioned on the supporting structure. A carrier is mounted on the mounting means and is movable in an angularly fixed attitude, or constrained to translatory movement, in any direction and in a plane parallel to the surface portion of the supporting structure. At least one member is movable with the carrier for locating a multiplicity of significant positions thereof, and complementary means fixedly mounted on either the support structure or the base portion cooperates with the movable member to locate the multiplicity of positions of the carrier. Either the movable member or the complementary means comprises a recording member on which indicia corresponding to each of the multiplicity of positions may be recorded.

In such a machine the movable member and complementary means cooperate upon movement of the carrier to the several significant positions and the second planar element moves relative to the first planar element. Reference to indicia recorded on the recording member for such movement enables the configuration of one of the planar elements to be substantially reproduced with different dimensions on the other planar element by transposing significant locations of the former to the latter when the carrier is in significant positions which correspond to the significant locations on the pattern being reproduced.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable member is operatively connected to the carrier through a proportionating device mounted on the supporting structure of the base portion, so that movement of the carrier by movement of the movable member causes the carrier and the movable member to travel through different proportionate distances. Most desirably, the other one of the movable member and complementary means includes a marker which is capable of producing indicia on the recording member. Hence, the indicia can be provided by initially moving the carrier through a multiplicity of significant positions and cooperatively producing such indicia on the recording member with the marker in each of the positions. The carrier can thereafter be moved between the same significant positions by cooperatively locating, with the recording member and marker, the indicia so recorded.

The machine may additionally include a second carrier so mounted on a second mounting means, and having means for supporting a third planar element over the surface portion of the supporting structure.

Such a machine may additionally include a proportionating device pivotally mounted on the supporting structure or the base portion and having the two carriers pivotally connected thereto at points effectively spaced from the point of pivotal mounting. The proportionating device couples the carriers for conjoint movement over distances in preselected ratios along two perpendicular axes by movement of the proportionating device. Preferably the proportionating device is adjustable to vary the effective spacings between the points of connection and the point of mounting so that the ratios of distances can thereby be varied. Alternatively, the second carrier may be movable independently of the first carrier and a second member which is movable with the second carrier may additionally be provided for locating a multiplicity of positions thereof in cooperation with the complementary means.

More specifically, the machines of the invention may include a sheet of grading paper and a pattern having a mu]- tiplicity of significant locations thereon which provide the first and second planar elements. The securing means may be adapted to secure a third planar element in addition to the first, in which case the first and third planar elements may be present and provided by such patterns, with the second planar element being a sheet of grading paper. If the machine includes at least a second carrier and angularly fixing mechanism, there may be provided two sheets of grading paper and pressure-sensitive image transfer means to effect the transfer of images therebetween.

The marker previously referred to is most desirably a stylus attached to the carrier, and the recording member is most desirably a plate releaseably secured to the base. The plate may be fabricated of a substantially permanently deformable material which is adapted to receive an impression from the stylus to provide the indicia for subsequent locating by the stylus. In addition, the machine desirably includes distance scales and cooperating indicators on the carrier and supporting structure to permit the carrier to be moved over measured distances relative to the base along perpendicular axes by reference thereto.

By the method of the invention a pattern is substantially reproduced in a different size by reference to a multiplicity of significant contour-defining locations of the pattern. A movable carrier is positioned relative to a base in a first significant position for grading a pattern, which is cooperatively recorded using a member movable with the carrier and complementary means fixed relative to the base to produce a first indicium on either the movable member or the complementary means. Thereafter, the carrier is moved to a plurality of subsequent significant positions that are significant for grading a pattern, each of which is recorded in the same manner to produce a plurality of additional indicia. One of a grading sheet and a pattern, the latter having significant contour-defining locations corresponding to each of the significant carrier positions, is positioned relative to the base, and the other one thereof is mounted on the carrier so that the grading sheet and pattern lie in parallel planes and are generally alignable in superimposed positions corresponding to each of the significant carrier positions. Thereafter, the carrier is translated among the first and subsequent significant positions thereof by reference to the indicia, and each of the significant locations is transposed from the pattern to the grading sheet when the carrier is in a significant position corresponding thereto. In that manner, the significant locations are transposed onto the grading sheet with the spacing therebetween being different than on the pattern so that the pattern can be substantially reproduced on the grading sheet in a different size by reference to the transposed locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a pattern grading machine embodying the present invention including a pair of stationarily mounted patterns and a sheet of grading paper movably supported thereunder;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a parallel bar mechanism employed in the machine of FIG. 1 with portions of adjacent elements fragmentarily illustrated;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a recording plate to an enlarged scale bearing indicia for pattern grading;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second grading machine embodying the invention, including three sets of carriers and parallel bar mechanisms;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a variable ratio proportionating device employed in the machine of FIG. 4 with portions of the associated elements being fragmentarily illustrated; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a set ratio proportionating device which may be employed with the type of machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Turning now in greater detail to the appended drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a grading machine embodying the present in vention and FIG. 2 illustrates the parallel bar mechanism which is employed therein. The grading machine is in the form of a desk or table providing a base 10 which is supported by legs 12. A housing 14 is secured on the upper surface of the base I0 and supports each of two patterns 16, 16 by an associated pair of arms 18 which are attached adjacent the forward edge of the housing 14. The ends of the arms 18 have clips 20 by which the patterns 16, 16' are secured in a fixed position on the upper surface of the base it).

As is best seen in FIG. 2, a parallel bar mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 22, is secured on the upper surface of the base 10 (fragmentarily illustrated) by a pair of posts 24 which project upwardly from plates 26 fastened on the base It), A pair of identical angle members 28 are pivotally supported at the juncture of the legs thereof upon the upper ends of the posts 24, and the shorter legs 30 of the angle members 28 are linked by a tie bar 32 which is pivotally connected to the ends thereof. A stud 34 depends from the end of each of the longer legs 36 of the angle members 28, and one of a second pair of angle members 38 is pivotally mounted at the juncture of its legs on the lower end of the associated stud 34. The shorter legs 44) of the angle members 38 are linked by a tie bar 42 pivotally connected thereto at its ends, and a carrier bar 44 is pivotally attached adjacent its ends to the ends of the longer legs 46 of the angle members 38. As will be apparent, the parallel bar mechanism 22 permits the carrier bar 44 to be relatively freely moved in any direction, but in only a single angular position in a plane parallel to the base ill); it is not free to rotate in that plane and is thus constrained to translating movement.

The carrier bar 44 rests on the upper surface of the base ill providing support for the otherwise unsupported parts of the parallel bar mechanism 22 and assuming some of the load existing on the pivotal points thereof. The bar 44 carries a rightangle member 48 near each of its ends, and the member 48 include. a forward projecting leg 50 and an upward and rearward projecting leg 52 (legs 50, 52 being fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 2). As is seen in FIG. 1, clips 54 are provided on the ends of the forward projecting legs 50 of the angle member 48 and serve to grip a sheet of grading paper 56 which rests on the upper surface of the base 10 beneath both the patterns [6. 16. It will be apparent that the sheet 56 will be relatively freely movable between the surface of the base 10 and the patterns l6, l6, and that its angular attitude will be fixed by virtoe of the parallel bar mechanism 22 by which it it carried.

The rearward projecting legs 52 of the right-angle member 48 are fixed to a second or overlying carrier bar 60, so that the overlying carrier bar 60 is parallel to the underlying carrying bar 44, and also to the tie bars 32, 42. The carrier bar 60 has a rearwardly projecting ruled finger 62 which is slidably received in a transparent reference plate 64, the latter in turn being mounted upon a cursor 66. The cursor 66 is slidably seated in a slot 68 at the rear edge of the housing 14 and a lateral scale '76 on the housing 14 is associated with the cursor 66 which is adapted to move laterally over it. The reference plate 64 has a hairline or other means by reference to which distances can be read from the ruled finger 64, thus indicating the distance of transverse or back-and-forth movement of the carrier 60, and hence of the paper 56. Similarly, the cursor 66 has a reference line or edge which is used with the lateral scale 70 to indicate the extent of lateral of side-to-side movement of the carrier bar 60 and the paper 56.

Two right-angle stop blocks 72 (only one which is visible) are attached on the upper surface of the housing 14 and cooperate with the pair of spring clips 74, also attached on the housing I4, to mount a rectangular recording plate 76. The recording plate is fabricated of a relatively soft and permanently deformable material to adapt it to be impressed with indicia for pattern grading. The carrier bar 60 passes over the recording plate 76 and has a rearwardly projecting marking arm 78 adjustably mounted thereon by a suitable clamp 80. A stylus 82 is supported in a vertical position at the free end of the arm 78, and it has a pointed lower tip to adapt it to form depressions in the material of the recording plate 76 to thereby produce the necessary indicia.

The machine may be used solely for pattern grading by employing plates bearing previously recorded indicia or, in preferred embodiments, the machine itself may be used to produce the indicia. FIG. 3 illustrates a typical recording plate 84 having a full set of indicia thereon for pattern grading, and the plate 84 may represent the plate 76 in FIG. I after the machine thereof is used to produce indicia thereon, or it may represent an independently produced recording plate.

If the plate is previously recorded, the stylus 82 is simply moved from indicium to indicium thereon, and either before or after each move a significant location on each of the patterns l6, 16 corresponding to the particular indicium is transposed to the sheet of grading paper 56. Thereafter, the points so recorded can be interconnected with suitably configured lines to substantially reproduce the patterns in a different size depending upon the relative movements of the patterns and grading paper resulting from movement of the grading paper 56. It should be appreciated that, for such a grading procedure, it is not necessary to refer to the distance measuring features of he device, i.e., the ruled finger 62, the reference plate 64, the cursor 66 and the lateral scale 70. An outstanding advantage of the machine so employed resides in the fact that extremely simple recording members or templates can be employed with no need for means to be provided thereon for maintaining the carrier in an angularly fixed attitude, as is necessary to attain adequately accurate distances between the transposed locations. In fact, the recording member may simply be a sheet of paper and the maker a pen or pencil to produce points for subsequent reference. Normally however the recording member will be of a more permanent nature such as a template having permanent depressions formed therein and fabricated of a soft metal. or preferably of a synthetic polymeric resin.

In accordance with a preferred method of the invention, the recording plate 76 is initially blank, as illustrated in PEG. 1. After the patterns 16, to have been positioned in the arms 18 and the grading paper 56 positioned therebeneath in the forward projecting portions 50 of the angle members 438, a reference mark for each pattern (appropriately a line along the rear edge thereof or a mark at one corner) may be drawn drawn to provide a starting point Before moving the carrier 60, a first indicium is produced in the recording plate 76 by forcing the stylus 82 downwardly into it. Thereafter, the carrier 6i) and sheet of grading paper 56 may be shifted laterally a desired distance by reference to the scale 7i) to augment or diminish the spacing from, or the length of, the original reference point or line. in that position, a significant location may be transposed from the patterns to the grading paper, and a second indicium may be impressed into the recording plate 76 with the stylus 82..

Next, it will usually be appropriate to transpose significant locations of the patterns which are spaced transversely across the patterns from the width or shorter dimension of the original reference lines, and this spacing may be varied on the grading paper by shifting it transversely through a measured distance by reference to the ruled finger 62 on the carrier 60. After shifting the paper 56 in such a manner, the location may be transposed from the patterns 16, 16' thereto, and a third indicium also recorded on the recording plate 76. it will now be appreciated that, by subsequent similar moves of the carrier 60 and grading paper 56, the significant locations about the entire periphery of each of the patterns 16, 16 can be trans posed to the grading paper 56 and indicia corresponding thereto produced in the recording plate 76, such as to produce a recording plate 84 of the type illustrated in FIG. 3.

Connecting the transposed points in the manner previously described will reproduce the patterns employed in different sizes. Thereafter, the recording plate 84 can be used to produce additional patterns in the same size as were produced originally on the grading paper 56, or it can be employed with other patterns of different styles in which the same increase or decrease in relative dimensions is desired. The template can be used particularly advantageously to produce subsequent generations of patterns in increasing or decreasing size increments (depending upon the indicia configuration). This may be done by replacing the original pattern with the pattern produced from it (i.e., the first generation) and using the first generation pattern to produce a second generation in the next size, and so on. After the indicia are produced, grading can be accomplished with a plate such as 84 by an unskilled worker with virtually no assistance or supervision by a skilled grader. Preformed plates may be altered using the machine described, and it should be appreciated that the indicia can be produced with the machine in the absence of patterns and grading sheets.

Many variations may be made in the machines illustrated in FIGS. 1 and and in subsequent figures to permit considerable latitude. The arms 18 and right-angle member 48 may be detachable so that their their number may be increased or decreased to accommodate more or fewer planar elements; they may also be adjustable in length to allow optimum spacing therebe'tween. The carrier 60 may either support grading paper or be used to support one or more patterns, and its number of supporting members may be varied to accommodate a plurality of patterns; the arms on the housing ll t may be modified appropriately to support a sheet of grading paper, or a sheet of grading paper may simply be secured upon the base 10. Although a parallel bar mechanism is preferred as the angularly fixing mechanism, other types may be used which fix the carrier angularly to angularly fix the planar element carried thereby, i.e., against rotation about an axis normal to its plane; for example, the cross-slide devices known in the art may be substituted.

As has been pointed out, the scales which are provided are most appropriate when the machine is to be used for the production of indicia on the recording member so that the distance of initial moves can be readily determined. Also, the

clips 211, 54 are essentially schematically illustrated, and numerot s different types of clips or clamps may be employed and are well known in the art.

Turning now in detail to FIG. 4 of the drawing, therein illustra'red is a grading machine which is related to that described in FIGS. 1 and 3, but in which there are employed a different type of parallel bar mechanism and a multiplicity of moveable carrier bars 1MB, Mill. Each of the carrier bars 100, is mounted for nonrotational movement over the base 102 by an independent parallel bar mechanism supported upon a common pedestal 1 1M. Since each of the carrier bars 100, 100 and the associated parallel bar mechanisms are virtually the same, reference hereinafter will be limited to the uppermost carrier bar 100 and its supporting parallel bar mechanism.

The pedestal MM has two spaced pivot points 106 to which the ends of two similar bars 108 are pivotally connected. The other end of each of the bars 108 is pivotally connected to a common coupling plate 110, with spacing therebetween equal to that between the pivot points 106 on the pedestal 104 so that the bars 1418 are always parallel, notwithstanding movement of the plate 110 relative to the pedestal 104.

Two additional similar bars 112 are pivotally connected at their ends to the coupling plate 110 at spaced points thereon on an axis which is perpendicular to the axis on which is located the points of pivotal connection on the first pair of bars 108. The opposite ends of the bars 112 are pivotally connected to a bracket 114 with spacing equal to that at which they are connected to the coupling plate 110. The carrier bar 100 is rigidly attached to the bracket 114; thus, the carrier bar lltll) can be moved relatively freely but the relationships among the parts of the parallel bar mechanism will maintain the carrier bar 1011 in an angularly fixed attitude.

The carrier bar 100 carriers a pair of forwardly projecting arms 116 which have clips at their ends in which a pattern 118 is held. The carrier 100 also has a rearwardly projecting finger 120 which carries a stylus 122 in such a manner that the stylus 122 is positioned over a cooperating recording plate 124. Thus, it will be apparent that the carrier bar 100 is similar to the carrier bar 60 in FIG. 1 and that the rearwardly pivoting finger 120, the stylus 122 and the recording plate 124 may also be similar to the corresponding elements of FIG. 1. It will also be appreciated that the carrier bar 100 could be modified to include lateral and transverse scales of the type shown in H6. ll if so desired.

in a manner comparable to carrier 100, carrier bars 100 each have affixed to them a set of forwardly projecting arms 116 provided with clips at their ends, rearwardly projecting fingers 12d) similarly carrying styli 122, and associated recording plates 124'. Each pair of forwardly projecting arms 116 ofeach carrier bar 100 supports a sheet of grading paper 1.26, 12% and a third sheet of grading paper 126" is fixed directly upon the upper surface of the base 102 of the grading machine, such as with thumbtacks 128. It will be apparent that the base 102 provides underlying support for each sheet of grading paper 126 and for the pattern 118, and that the sheets of grading paper 126, 12s and the pattern 118 can be shifted relative to one another and to the fixed sheet of grading paper 126", each movable planar element being fixed against angular movement by its associated parallel bar mechanism.

The machine illustrated in FIG. 4 can be used to reproduce the pattern 113 in a multiplicity of different sizes essentially simultaneously by moving the pattern 118 and the two sheets of grading paper 126, 126 relative to one another and the sheet of grading paper 126". In a manner similar to that previously described, an original or reference point may be transposed from the pattern 118 to each of the sheets of paper 126 when all of the carrier bars 100 are in an initial position, it being appreciated that suitable means such as pressure sensitive image transfer paper will be interposed between the sheets 126, 126' and 126, 126" for that purpose. Alternatively, specially treated reproduction papers could be employed as the grading sheets for that purpose. After the reference point is transposed to all sheets, the carrier bars 100 may be moved to a second location for each of them. For example, to produce reference points for the linear edge along the rear of the pattern 1H8, the carrier bars 100 would be shifted in a lateral direction, i.e., either to the right or to the left, and it should be appreciated that they need not all be moved in the same direction. In fact, by moving certain of the carrier bars in directions opposite from others, it is possible to simultaneously produce patterns in larger and smaller sizes with the same pattern 118.

As in the case of the embodiment of H65. l and 2, the recording plates 124 of the present machine may be previ ously provided with suitable indicia, or the indicia may be generated on the plates 124 directly on the machine. The method of use and of generation of the plates is comparable to that which was previously described, the principal difference being that with this machine there are a plurality of independent positioning moves which must be made in order to effect the transposition of significant locations from the pattern 118 to all of the sheets of grading paper 326 in a suitable manner.

Turning now in detail to H6. 5, a modification of the machine depicted in FIG. d is illustrated whereby the carrier bars are secured together for conjoint movement over distances in preselected ratios along two perpendicular axes. in accordance with this embodiment, carrier bars 2M 2G0 are employed which are comparable in every respect to the carriers 100, I100 of FIG. 4 (and are similarly supported by independent parallel bar mechanisms) except that the position and structure of the rearwardly projecting fingers 202, 292' are altered from the configuration shown therein. Thus, the fingers 202, 202' are in general vertical alignment and are modified by the provision of slide plates 204, 204 on the free ends thereof; in addition, the styli on the fingers are absent and only a single recording plate 206 is employed.

The slide plates 8, 204' are mounted in a box frame generally designated by the numeral 208 to provide a proportionating device, by which movement of the carrier bars 200, 200' in such preselected ratios can be effected by movement of the frame 208. The box frame 20% includes a pillar 210 which is secured to the base 212 of the machine, the latter being fragmentarily illustrated. A pair of drag links 2145 which are equal in length are pivotally attached at one end to both the top and the bottom of the pillar 2H0, and each set of top and bottom drag links 214 supports a clamp plate 2M3 which is pivotally connected to the opposite ends thereof. The clamp 4 plates 216 are, in turn, pivotally connected at their adjacent edges to provide the boxlike structure of the frame 208. It will be appreciated that the frame 2&8 can be pivoted about the pillar 210, and that its configuration can be altered by moving opposing pivot points nearer or further from one another.

Each of the clamp plates 216 is provided with three parallel horizontal slots 218 in each of which is mounted a pivot pin assembly, generally designated by the numeral 220; since all pivot pin assemblies 220 are similar in design, only the assembly in the top slot 218 of the forward clamp plate 2% will be described in detail hereinafter. A distance scale is provided along one edge of each of the slots 228, and the pivot pin as semblies are adapted to slide along the associated slot Zllii and be secured at any position therealong, the scales being employed to indicate the position of each pivot pin assembly relative to the point at which the clamp plate 2% in which it is mounted is pivoted to its associated drag links 214.

To adapt the pivot pin assemblies 224 for sliding movement in the slots 218, they include a U-shaped slide which is dimensioned to snugly lit in the slot 213. The slide of each pivot pin assembly 220 has a base 222 with a pair of upstanding sidewalls 223, each of which has an ear 224 which projects outwardly from the end thereof to prevent the slide 222 from passing entirely through the slot 2l8. A threaded stud 22s projects downwardly from the base 222 of the slide, and has a nut 228 threadably engaged thereon with which the assembly 220 can be tightened in the selected position. A pair of pins 230 are provided on the slide (only one otwhich can be seen), and one pin 230 projects inwardly from each sidewall 223 thereof. The pins 230 ride in channels 232 which are provided in the top and bottom surfaces of each of the slide plates 204 near the two perpendicular outer edges thereof. A finger 234 projects from the bottom of the forward clamp plate 216 and carries a stylus 236 in a manner similar to that which has been described with reference to the carrier bar of previous figures. The stylus 236 is movable over the recording plate 206 and is capable of producing indicia thereon.

Operation of the machine utilizing this embodiment is essentially the same as that which has been previously described in terms of the use of the stylus and recording plate to locate and/or produce indicia. it is also somewhat similar to operation of the machine depicted in FIG. 4 in that three planar elements may be moved different distances to simultaneously produce patterns in different sizes. However, this modification eliminates the need to move each of the three carrier bars 200 separately since they are coupled within the box frame assembly 208 and are thereby conjointly movable. lt will be appreciated that the movement of the stylus 206 will be transmitted to the clamp plates 216 and thereby to the carriers 200, 206i, and that movement will be transmitted to the carriers in difierent proportions in two parallel directions depending upon the spacing of the pivot pin assemblies 220 from the points of pivoting of the clamp plates 216 on the drag links 214. As a result, movement of the stylus 236 will cause the carrier bars 200, 200' to move in the same direction, but the distance will be altered as a result of the effect of the pivot pin placement; as each pivot pin assembly imparts its movement to the connected slide plate. the other pin assembly on the same plate may slide in the slots provided.

Other types of proportionating devices may be substituted for the one described and such devices need not necessarily be adapted to permit adjustment of the distance ratios. For example, the proportionating device may simply be a parallel bar expanding grill or lazy tongs" device wherein the fingers projecting from the carrier bars are attached at the pivoted intersections of the elements. in addition such a proportionating device can be used to advantage with the simplified embodiment of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

More particularly, as is seen in HO. 6, a lazy tongs" device, generally designated by the numeral 300, is secured on the upper surface of a base 302 (fragmentarily illustrated) by a plate 304 at one end thereof. At the opposite end of the device 300, a stylus 306 is positioned to pass over a template 308, which is also mounted on the base 302. A carrier bar 310, which is supported by a parallel bar mechanism (not shown) of the type described previously, has a rearwardly projecting arm 3ll2 which is pivotally attached to the lazy tongs 300 at an intersection 314 of two of the cross elements thereof, the point being spaced from the point at which the stylus 306 is positioned. The other two such intersections are provided with small apertures 316, and the arm 312 has 21 depending pin 318 by which it is pivoted at the intersection 314, which also has a small aperture (not visible) thereat in which the pin is received. Thus, the arm 312 can be disassembled from the intersection 314 and relocated for pivotal mounting at either of the other two intersections by inserting the pin on the arm 312 into the hole 316 thereat.

With the pin so relocated in one of the holes, moving the stylus among indicia on the plate 308 will cause the carrier to move through smaller distances than with the pin at the intersection 314. In this manner, the same template and pattern (not shown) can be used to reproduce the pattern in two smaller sizes than would be produced with the pin 318 pivoted at the intersection 314, as illustrated. The lazy tongs 300 may be constructed with more elements and intersections thereof for greater variety of sizes, and the stylus can be made relocatable at any of the other intersections. By the latter variation, the stylus may be positioned nearer the pivotal connection to the base than the point at which the carrier arm is connected, and by so doing permit a single pattern and record ing plate to be used to produce the pattern in larger as well as smaller sizes.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a pattern grading machine which is relatively simple and inex pensive to manufacture, and which can be used by a relatively unskilled worker with a minimum amount of supervision and/or assistance by a skilled grader to reproduce patterns in a different sizes. More specifically, a method and apparatus are provided wherein a template can be generated by a skilled grader and thereafter employed by a relatively unskilled worker for the grading of patterns. Furthermore, machines are provided wherein a multiplicity of patterns can be graded simultaneously or wherein one or more patterns can simultaneously be produced in a multiplicity of different sizesv lclairn:

1. in a pattern grading machine, the combination comprising:

a. supporting structure having a substantially plan-'u' upper surface portion for providing underlying support for a first planar element in fixed position;

b. a carrier having means for fixedly attaching a second planar element thereto for displacement over said surface portion of said supporting structure;

c. a base portion stationarily positioned on said supporting structure;

d. mechanical means engaging said carrier and coupling it to said base portion and guiding movement thereof, said mechanical means constraining said carrier to movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said surface portion of said supporting structure with said carrier always parallel to a fixed base line, said carrier engaged on said mechanical means being movable in any direction within said plane;

. at least a first membermovable with said carrier;

at least a second member fixedly mounted on one of said support and base portion and cooperating with said movable member;

g. one of said members constituting a point-indicating member and the other of said members constituting a recording member on which significant indicia can be marked for reading by said indicating member;

whereby, upon movement of said carrier to the several signifcant positions with the second planar element moving relative to said surface portion, the cooperation of said movable member and second member with reference of only said indicating member to indicia marked on said recording member enables the pattern of one of the planar elements to be substantially reproduced, with different dimensions, on the other of the planar elements by transposing significant locations of the former to the latter when said carrier is in significant positions which correspond to the significant locations of the pattern being reproduced.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said movable member is operatively connected to said carrier through a proportionating device mounted on one of said supporting structure and said base portion, so that said carrier and said movable member move simultaneously and travel through different, proportionate distances.

3. The machine of claim El wherein said point-indicating means includes a marker capable of producing indicia on said recording member, so that said indicia can be provided by ini tially moving said carrier through a multiplicity of significant positions and cooperatively producing said indicia on said recording member with said marker in each of said significant positions, said carrier being therefore movable between the same significant positions by cooperatively locating the indicia so recorded with said recording member and marker.

4. The machine of claim 1 additionally including a second of said carrier and second of said mechanical engaging means so engaging said second carrier, said second carrier having means for attaching a third planar element for displacement over said surface portion of said supporting structure.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said mechanical engaging means includes a proportioning device pivotally mounted upon one of said supporting structure and base portion and iii having said one and second carriers pivotally connected therctr at points effectively spaced from the point of pivotal mounting thereof, said proportioning device coupling said carriers for conjoint movement over distances in preselected ratios along two perpendicular axes by movement of said proportionating device.

e. The machine of claim 5 wherein said proportionating device is adjustable to vary the effective spacings between said points of connection and said point of mounting, and thereby to vary said ratios of distances.

7. The machine of claim 4 wherein said second carrier is movable independently of said one carrier, and wherein there is included a third, member which is movable with said second carrier to locate a multiplicity of positions thereof in cooperation with said second member.

8. The machine of claim 1 additionally including a sheet of grading paper and a pattern having a multiplicity of significant locations thereon, said sheet of grading paper and said patter providing said first and second planar elements.

9. The machine of claim 3 wherein said marker is attached to said carrier and said recording member is a plate releasably secured to said base, said plate being fabricated of a substantially permanently deformable material which is adapted to receive an impression from said marker to provide indicia on said plate for subsequent locating by said marker.

10. The machine of claim 1 wherein two perpendicular distance scales and cooperating indicators are provided on said carrier and supporting structure to adapt said carrier for movement over measured distances relative to said base along two perpendicular axes by reference thereto.

M. In a method of pattern grading to substantially reproduce a pattern in a different size by reference to a multiplicity of significant contour-defining locations of said pattern, the steps comprising:

a. positioning a movable carrier relative to a base in a first significant position for grading a pattern and recording said position using a member movable with said carrier in cooperation with complementary means fixed relative to said base, so as to produce a first indicium on one of said movable member and complementary means;

b. translating said carrier to a plurality of subsequent positions that are significant for grading a pattern and recording each of said subsequent positions in the manner of step (a) to produce a plurality of additional indicia;

c. positioning relative to said base one of a grading sheet and a pattern, said pattern having significant, contourdefining locations thereon corresponding to said carrier positions;

d. mounting the other of said grading sheet and pattern on said carrier with said grading sheet and pattern lying in parallel planes and generally alignable in superimposed positions corresponding to said significant carrier positions;

e. translating said carrier among said first and additional significant positions by reference to said indicia; and

t. transposing each of said significant locations from said pattern to said grading sheet when said carrier is in a significant position corresponding thereto;

whereby said significant locations are transposed onto said grading sheet with the spacing therebetween being different than on said pattern so that said pattern can be substantially reproduced on said grading sheet in a different size by reference to the transposed locations.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a second movable carrier is positioned relative to said base in a first significant position and said position is cooperatively recorded using a member movable with said second carrier in cooperation with complementary means fixed relative to said base to produce a first indicium on one of said movable member and complementary means; wherein said second carrier is moved to a plurality of subsequent significant positions and each of said subsequent significant positions is recorded in said manner to produce a plurality of additional indicia; wherein a second grading sheet is mounted on said second carrier with said second grading sheet, said first-mentioned grading sheet and said pattern lying in parallel planes and being generally alignable in superposed positions corresponding to each of said significant carrier positions; wherein said second carrier is translated among said first and additional significant positions by reference to said indicia; and wherein each of said significant locations is transposed from said pattern to said first and second grading sheets simultaneously when both of said first and second carriers are in significant positions corresponding thereto.

I3. The method of claim 12 wherein said first and second carriers are translated simultaneously in preselected ratios of distances through a proportionating device, and wherein only a single set of indicia is recorded and referred to.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said second carrier is movable independently of said first carrier and has a second member movable with it which is independent of said first movable member to produce a second set of indicia corresponding to the first-mentioned set of indicia. said first carrier being translated among said first and additional significant positions thereof by reference to said first set of indicia and said second carrier being translated among said first and additional significant positions thereof by reference to said second set of indicia 

1. In a pattern grading machine, the combination comprising: a. supporting structure having a substantially planar upper surface portion for providing underlyinG support for a first planar element in fixed position; b. a carrier having means for fixedly attaching a second planar element thereto for displacement over said surface portion of said supporting structure; c. a base portion stationarily positioned on said supporting structure; d. mechanical means engaging said carrier and coupling it to said base portion and guiding movement thereof, said mechanical means constraining said carrier to movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said surface portion of said supporting structure with said carrier always parallel to a fixed base line, said carrier engaged on said mechanical means being movable in any direction within said plane; e. at least a first member movable with said carrier; f. at least a second member fixedly mounted on one of said support and base portion and cooperating with said movable member; g. one of said members constituting a point-indicating member and the other of said members constituting a recording member on which significant indicia can be marked for reading by said indicating member; whereby, upon movement of said carrier to the several significant positions with the second planar element moving relative to said surface portion, the cooperation of said movable member and second member with reference of only said indicating member to indicia marked on said recording member enables the pattern of one of the planar elements to be substantially reproduced, with different dimensions, on the other of the planar elements by transposing significant locations of the former to the latter when said carrier is in significant positions which correspond to the significant locations of the pattern being reproduced.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said movable member is operatively connected to said carrier through a proportionating device mounted on one of said supporting structure and said base portion, so that said carrier and said movable member move simultaneously and travel through different, proportionate distances.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said point-indicating means includes a marker capable of producing indicia on said recording member, so that said indicia can be provided by initially moving said carrier through a multiplicity of significant positions and cooperatively producing said indicia on said recording member with said marker in each of said significant positions, said carrier being therefore movable between the same significant positions by cooperatively locating the indicia so recorded with said recording member and marker.
 4. The machine of claim 1 additionally including a second of said carrier and second of said mechanical engaging means so engaging said second carrier, said second carrier having means for attaching a third planar element for displacement over said surface portion of said supporting structure.
 5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said mechanical engaging means includes a proportioning device pivotally mounted upon one of said supporting structure and base portion and having said one and second carriers pivotally connected thereto at points effectively spaced from the point of pivotal mounting thereof, said proportioning device coupling said carriers for conjoint movement over distances in preselected ratios along two perpendicular axes by movement of said proportionating device.
 6. The machine of claim 5 wherein said proportionating device is adjustable to vary the effective spacings between said points of connection and said point of mounting, and thereby to vary said ratios of distances.
 7. The machine of claim 4 wherein said second carrier is movable independently of said one carrier, and wherein there is included a third, member which is movable with said second carrier to locate a multiplicity of positions thereof in cooperation with said second member.
 8. The machine of claim 1 additionally including a sheet of grading paper and a pattern having a multiplicity of significant locations thereon, said sheet of gRading paper and said patter providing said first and second planar elements.
 9. The machine of claim 3 wherein said marker is attached to said carrier and said recording member is a plate releasably secured to said base, said plate being fabricated of a substantially permanently deformable material which is adapted to receive an impression from said marker to provide indicia on said plate for subsequent locating by said marker.
 10. The machine of claim 1 wherein two perpendicular distance scales and cooperating indicators are provided on said carrier and supporting structure to adapt said carrier for movement over measured distances relative to said base along two perpendicular axes by reference thereto.
 11. In a method of pattern grading to substantially reproduce a pattern in a different size by reference to a multiplicity of significant contour-defining locations of said pattern, the steps comprising: a. positioning a movable carrier relative to a base in a first significant position for grading a pattern and recording said position using a member movable with said carrier in cooperation with complementary means fixed relative to said base, so as to produce a first indicium on one of said movable member and complementary means; b. translating said carrier to a plurality of subsequent positions that are significant for grading a pattern and recording each of said subsequent positions in the manner of step (a) to produce a plurality of additional indicia; c. positioning relative to said base one of a grading sheet and a pattern, said pattern having significant, contour-defining locations thereon corresponding to said carrier positions; d. mounting the other of said grading sheet and pattern on said carrier with said grading sheet and pattern lying in parallel planes and generally alignable in superimposed positions corresponding to said significant carrier positions; e. translating said carrier among said first and additional significant positions by reference to said indicia; and f. transposing each of said significant locations from said pattern to said grading sheet when said carrier is in a significant position corresponding thereto; whereby said significant locations are transposed onto said grading sheet with the spacing therebetween being different than on said pattern so that said pattern can be substantially reproduced on said grading sheet in a different size by reference to the transposed locations.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein a second movable carrier is positioned relative to said base in a first significant position and said position is cooperatively recorded using a member movable with said second carrier in cooperation with complementary means fixed relative to said base to produce a first indicium on one of said movable member and complementary means; wherein said second carrier is moved to a plurality of subsequent significant positions and each of said subsequent significant positions is recorded in said manner to produce a plurality of additional indicia; wherein a second grading sheet is mounted on said second carrier with said second grading sheet, said first-mentioned grading sheet and said pattern lying in parallel planes and being generally alignable in superposed positions corresponding to each of said significant carrier positions; wherein said second carrier is translated among said first and additional significant positions by reference to said indicia; and wherein each of said significant locations is transposed from said pattern to said first and second grading sheets simultaneously when both of said first and second carriers are in significant positions corresponding thereto.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first and second carriers are translated simultaneously in preselected ratios of distances through a proportionating device, and wherein only a single set of indicia is recorded and referred to.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said second carrier is movablE independently of said first carrier and has a second member movable with it which is independent of said first movable member to produce a second set of indicia corresponding to the first-mentioned set of indicia, said first carrier being translated among said first and additional significant positions thereof by reference to said first set of indicia and said second carrier being translated among said first and additional significant positions thereof by reference to said second set of indicia. 